Should a husband part with his salary?

September 10, 2012

Pic: radioboston.wbur.org

A proposal to part with a portion of the husband’s salary and hand it over to the wife has been strongly opposed by Men’s rights groups.
Based on various recommendations, the government is planning on introducing a law which if passed would mandate every man to part with a portion of his salary income as salary to his wife.
The ‘Save Family Foundation’ has written a letter to Krishna Tirath, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, seeking immediate withdrawal of the proposal. The foundation, representing around 40 different men’s organizations across the country, has termed this proposal as one-sided.
The organization has also asked for the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to intervene in this matter. It is pertinent to mention here that the Govt. of India is soon planning to introduce a law, which, if passed, would mandate every man to part with a portion of his income as salary to wife.
Opposing the proposal, Swarup Sarkar, founder member of Save Family Foundation noted that, “The Govt. must focus on bringing laws that are gender neutral. Any law which can breakdown the society, must not be passed. The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development is proposing a law of providing salary to housewives keeping in mind, only the interests of women. However, no one in the Govt. is ready to accept the fact that a husband gives away his entire salary to his wife.’ Swarup Sarkar further added that his organization has written a letter to Krishna Tirath, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, to immediately withdraw the proposal.
Noting that if the Govt. of India formulates a law to provide monthly salary to wives, then all other professional conditions must also apply at home says Virag Dhulia, Head, Gender Studies, Confidare Research, Bangalore. This means that the husband shall also have right to audit the maintenance of house by the wife. There should be regular performance appraisal and the husband shall reserve right to fire wife if she fails to perform in household chores. Also, it must not be a mandate on a husband to provide expenses for clothes, entertainment and cosmetic-make up.
Vrunda Grover, Senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India and women’s rights activist, noted that instead of giving salary to wife, the Govt. must look at providing equal share to woman in husband’s property. It is a notable provision to provide salary to wife, but it also makes it look as if the husband is boss and wife is servant. Sahiya Dehlawi, noted writer who works for women empowerment observed that if the Government of India provides for share in fixed deposit or policies then it would work in a better director for social security for women.

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